Telegraph typewriter pasting platform



w 19 w mmWm k "2 a V M\\\\ A 1933- J. J. GILLIGAN ET AL 1,393,513

TELEGRAPH TYPEWRITER PASTING PLATFORM Filed Jan. 6, 1952 %A\\\\\\\\\\ w m INVENTORS JOHN J- G/LL/GAN, AND I'M/213V R. sr

MT EY Patented Jan. 10, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT QFF' IiCE I JOHN J. GI'LLIGAN, QF BROQKLYN, NEW YORK, AND HARRY R. STARR, OF MET UCHEN, i NEW JERSEY TYI'EVYBITER' TASTING PLATFORM Application on January 6, 1932. Serial no. 5s4,s7e.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for facilitating-the handling of the message tape which issues froma telegraph typewriter machine of thesort adapted 5 for both transmission and reception of messages, and has for its object to reduce the space requirements necessary for .sucha machine and also to make-the application of the printed tape to a message sheet more conveno ient and rapid.

'With such machines the customary practice is to have the operator moisten-and applythe message tape to a sheet located at :the side of the machine where the tape issues. This re- 15; quires substantial space at the side \of the machine and also involves either the operator stretching or shifting his position in order to change from transmission to message :recep tion. In brokerage ofiices andxthe like where- 2o rentals are high andspace is at a premium this practice is objectionable, not only be.- cause of the excessive space requirements but also because of the time and inconvenience of the operator ineither movingor stretching in 25; order .to change from receiving to transmittin 1 ne solution of the problem has contem plated the-provision of a platform pivoted-to the front of the machine-casingand adapted as to serve as a work-holdimgand message pad; supporting or gumming platform located over the machine keyboard.

This suggestion also -.conte1nplaited this platformbeing raised out of the way during 35.; message transmission when it adapted to serve as acopy holder. There .areseveral objections to this suggestion among which may be mentioned that since {the cover of these; machines is generally loose and not tightly at: fitted in place, :an unsteady support is. provided for the message reception sheet during the pasting or gumming operation. Also when this platform is located over the keyboard it has been customary to locate the 5; moistening-device on theside of the machine, with the result that the operator has to draw a. piece-of message tape over the moistener in r a general front and back motion which re.- quires considerable stretching and inconven- 5 lence.

According to this invention thesedisadvantages are eliminated. The tape moi-stoning operation may be performed by moving the tape across the front of the machine with the moistener being located at onesideof the keyboard and the git-inning or message padplatform is located so as to be at a convenient height below and in frontof the keyboard yet not in the way of the easy moisteningoP- oration.

Specifically a shallow supporting member is provided for the telegraph typewriter machine and the message pad holding platt'orm is. sl idable from beneath the machine keyboard forwardly for message reception. The platform is soconstructed as to be readilyand securely clampedto the shallow supporting memberso that a satisfactory and steady support is provided during the w-ipingand pasting operations.

lnorder to change from receivingeto tramsmitting the operator .merely moves the plat form inwardly below the machine keybcard, a substantial knock or thrust being necessary to unclanopthe: platform.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of anembodimerit of this invention with the message pad platform in extended position. d

Fig. 2 is a transverse section throughthe machine supporting member of Fig. l. with the platform in its inoperative position for transmission of messages on the machine.

Fig. 3 is a view correspondingxto FigQ but with the platform inch-tended: position. Fig. 4 is-a partial section on the, line 4;-, l of. Fig-2.

Acustomary form of telegraph typewriter machine is shown at '10 and is of the. type adapted for both message transmission and message reception, the received message; being printed by the machine on a gummed'tape. 1=1 issuing from the left side ofthe machine as shown. The machine 10 provided with the usual keyboard 12 at the front and the casing of the machine mayor may not be provided withatransparenttwindow' through which the printing mechanism may beseen. Secured to the-side of the support lfiand eX.-' tending above the keys is .a wick or moisten-v ing device 13 of customary form. .After 9 tearing off the message tape it is passed across the moistening device 13 by moving the tape in a lateral direction across the front of the machine above the keyboard.

The operator then proceeds to apply the moistened gummed tape to the message sheet or pad 14, held on the platform 15 as illustrated. A spring clip 19 of the shape shown provides a convenient clipping means for the message pad.

A shallow supporting member 16 is mounted beneath the machine and is of such height that the machine is not unduly raised, in fact the height of said supporting member 16 is generally between two and three inches.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the platform 15 is slidable within the supporting member 16 somewhat after the manner of a well'fitted desk slide or drawer except that a simple and automatic clamping mechanism is provided for holding the platform in extended position. The clamping means comprises a wedge 17 on the rear portion of the platform 15 which cooperates with a wedge 18 secured to the supporting member 16. These Wedges and the entire construction may be of either wood or metal, wood being most frequently used because of the simplicity of the construction and economy in production cost.

For message reception the platform 15 is pulled out by grasping the knob 20-on the front of the platform in much the same manner as an ordinary drawer is pulled out. As the platform reaches the limit of'its extended position the wedges 17 and 18 engage and preferably the platform is drawn out with enough force to make the wedges provide a clamping action for the platform so that the platform is clamped to'the supporting member 16.

Since the supporting member 16 is generally mounted at the front edge of a desk, table or counter it will be understood that when the platform is extended, such platform together with the'supporting member 16 constitute a lever. The overhanging lever portion or platform 15 when in extended position is counterbalanced by the weight of the machine 10 acting on the rear portion oft-he supporting member 10 or lever so that the weight of the machine assists in providing a steady and satisfactory support for the message pad 14, and any downward thrusts or pressure on the platform and pad during the pasting and wiping operations of afiixing the tape to the message sheet will not cause any wobble or movement of the platform.

Among the advantages of this invention may be mentioned the increased convenience and minimum space requirements for manipulating the message tape. The location of the moistening device 13 at the side of the keyboard and in front of the machine permits the operator to moisten the tape by .21

movement of the tape across the front of the machine without having to stretchhimself as would be necessary if the tape were to be moistened by moving it in a front or backward motion. Locating the message platform below and in front of the keyboard does not impede free movement of the tape during themoistening operation and yet provides a satisfactory support for the message pad close tothe keyboard where the pasting may be done most rapidly and conveniently.

If desired a moistening device of the type indicated by the numeral 16 in the patent of Blanchard, .et al., 1,831,700, dated November 10, 1931, may be used and held in the operators right hand, but experience has shown that this type of'moistener is not adapted for the most rapid work such as is necessary in brokerage oflices because such a moistener requires the delay incident to threading the message tape into it. The'operator may or may notuse a thimble of the sort illustrated by the numeral 18 in said Blanchard patent, to assist in pasting and wiping and tearing off the tape where needed as it is being applied to the message sheet.

It will be noted that the message pad 14 i is held by the spring clip 19 in such position that the platform may be moved inwardly and the pad retained in position without being removed from the platform.

When it is desired to stop receiving on this machine and begin transmitting messages, the change may be quickly efi'ected by giving the outer edge of the platform 15 an inward knock or thrust suflicient to release the clamping Wedges. Such release of the platform clampingmeans and its movement out of the way to a position beneath the machine keyboard may thus be effected in a single movement by one hand of the operator. When the platform is telescoped within the supporting member 16 it is entirely out of the Way of the operator allowing free movement to theoperators hands and forearms during manipulation ofthe keys formessage transmission.

One advantageof locating the platform below and in front of the machine keyboard during message reception is that the space above the keyboard is left clear to permit the convenient and unimpeded tape moistening movements. Another advantage of locating the pad platform in such position is that it may be steadied and made firm not only by the wedge clamping means but also by the weight of the machine holding down the supporting member 16 and acting as a counterbalancing means for the platform or overhanging-lever portion {15. WVhen no space on the work-table or counter 21 is required at theside ofth'e' machine for the pasting portion, it will be appreciated that with the present invention these telegraph typewriter machines may be placed close together, leavse saw ing only room enough for the machines and operators. Still further space economy may be attained by having the machines arranged at an angle to the front edge of the worktable, in which latter case this front edge of the work-table may or may not be recessed to provide space for the operator. The front portion of the work-table 21 serves as a fulcrum for the lever constituted by the extended platform 15 and the supporting member 16 so that the weight of the machine 10 may constitute a counterbalancing means for any downward thrust on the overhanging platform 15.

As used in the appended claims the term clamping means does not contemplate any special degree of pressure. An important consideration is that the pasting platform 15 shall be firmly held in operative position without the usual looseness found in desk slides and the like, but yet be capable of easy movement into and out of its operative and inoperative positions.

lVe claim:

1. The combination with a tape printing telegraph typewriter machine adapted for both message transmission and reception, of a movable platform adapted for supporting a message reception sheet to which the tape may be pasted in front of and below the machine keyboard, said platform forming partof a lever, and lever counterbalancing means for downward pressure on the platform, said counterbalancing means comprising said machine, said platform being slidable within the portion of said lever under said machine, and means for clamping said platform to said lever portion when said platform is in its extended position, said last mentioned means being effective only in fully extended position of the platform.

2. The combination with a tape printing telegraph typewriter machine adapted for both message transmission and reception, of a movable platform adapted for supporting a message reception sheet to which the tape may be pasted in front of and below the machine keyboard, said platform forming part of a lever, and lever counterbalancing means for downward pressure on the platform, said counter-balancing means comprising said machine, said platform being slidable within the portion of said lever under said machine, and means for clan'lping said platform to said lever portion when said platform is in its extended position, said clamping means being releasable by an inwardly directed thrust upon said platform.

3. A supporting member for a tape printing telegraph typewriter machine, a message pad holding platform slidable from within said supporting member to an extended position in front of the machine, and means for automatically and rigidly clamping said platform in its extended position in response to pulling the same outward. I l; The combination with a tape printing telegraph typewriter machine adapted for both message transmission and reception, of f a movable platform adapted for supporting a message reception sheet to which the tape may be pasted in front of and below the machine keyboard, said platform forming part of a lever, and lever counterbalancing means for downward,pressure on the plat,- form, said counterbalancing means compris ing said machine, said platform being slidable within the portion of said lever under said machine, and means for clamping said platform to said lever portion when said platform is in its extended position,said clamping means comprising cooperative 'wedging portions on said platform and on said lever x below said machine. A shallow supporting member for a tape printing telegraph typewriter machine, a message pad holding platform slidable from within said supporting member to an extended position in front of the machine, and cooperative Wedges, one secured to said platform and another secured to said supporting member for clamping said platform when in extended position substantially rigidly to said supporting member.

6. The combination with a tape printing telegraph typewriter machine having a keyboard and adapted for both the transmission and reception of messages, of a message blank supporting means on which the tape may be pasted, said means being slidable in and out beneath the keyboard of said machine and means for automatically clamping said slid-= able means in extended position in response to the outward movement thereof, said clamping means being released in response to an inward thrust for moving said slidable means inwardly beneath the machine keyboard whereby said machine and the support 7 ing means may be quickly conditioned for message transmlssion or reception.

7. The combination with a tape printing telegraph typewriter machine having a keyboard and adapted for both the transmission and reception of messages, of a message blank supporting means on which the tape may be pasted, said means being slidable in and out beneath the keyboard of said machine, and tape moistening means fixedly secured adjacent the machine keyboard at such a height and forward position as to enable the opera tor to pass the tape simultaneously across the moistening means and keyboard in conditioning the tape for pasting to a message blank on said supporting means, whereby the oper- 3 ator may moisten and paste the tape with the expenditure of little time and effort.

8. The combination with a tape printing telegraph typewriter machine having a keyboard and adapted for both the transmission and reception of messages, of a message blank supporting means on which the tape may be pasted, said means being slidable in and out from beneath the keyboard of the machine, and tape moistening means adjacent the machine keyboard at such height and forward position as to enable the operator to pass the tape simultaneously across the moistening means and in front of the machine in conditioning the tape for pasting to a message blank on said supporting means whereby the operator may moisten and paste the tape with the expenditure of little time and efl'ort.

9. The combination with a tape printing telegraph typewriter machine adapted for both message transmission and reception, of a movable platform adapted for supporting a message reception sheet to which the tape may be pasted, in frontof and no higher than the machine keyboard, and means for quickly clamping said plate firmly in operative position, said clamping means being quickly releasable by a single movement of the operators hand to enable the plate to be moved to an out-of-the-way position beneath the machine and in rear of its operative position.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 29 day of December, 1931.

JOHN J. GILLIGAN. HARRY R. STARR. 

